Official description
7 B-17’s of 29 dispatched, ineffectively raid the Wilton shipyards at Rotterdam in bad weather. 2 HBs seek T/Os in vicinity of Utrecht. Heavy ftr opposition is successfully repulsed with bmr crews claiming 12 destroyed.
Description
97BG despatches 15 B-17s to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland; 301BG despatches 14 B-17s to bomb targets of opportunity (O) in and around Utrecht, Holland.
Mission details
1. ROTTERDAM
Description
SHIP YARD
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
There is no fighter escort for this mission.
Units
-
Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
17.50 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
15 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
4 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
3 |
Number of people Killed In Action |
1 |
Number of people Wounded in Action |
3 |
Number of people Returned To Duty |
9 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
8 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command |
4 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
7 |
2. UTRECHT
Description
BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY
Aircraft type
B-17 Flying Fortress
Notes
Not yet known
Units
-
Group
Activated 3-February-1942 at Geiger Field, Washington and equipped with B-17s. On 27-May-1942 the ground unit moved to Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, and the aircraft went to Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base), California for...
Mission Statistics
Tonnage dropped |
5.00 |
Number of aircraft Sent |
14 |
Number of aircraft Effective |
5 |
Number of aircraft Damaged |
1 |
Number of people Wounded in Action |
1 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Destroyed by Bomber Command |
4 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Probably Destroyed by Bomber Command |
6 |
Enemy aircraft claimed as Damaged by Bomber Command |
5 |
Service
People
-
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Killed in Action while serving as a Ball Turret gunner aboard B-17E 41-9074, 97BG/340BS 7-Sep-42 on mission to Rotterdam, Holland. Sgt. Kleinman was the only KIA on the aircraft which returned with battle damage to Polebrook. 8 other crewmen returned...
Aircraft
-
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Boise 359BS/303BG 10/4/42; Presque Is 31/5/42; Slated 94BG; transferred 340BS/97BG Polebrook 28/7/42; sustained battle damaged over Rotterdam 7/9/42 and returned to Polebrook. with Capt Hughes, Ball turret gunner: Sgt Julius L. Kleiman KIA,...